Great Britain Secures Bronze at Water Ski Worlds
The Great Britain team placed third in the overall open classification at the World Barefoot Water Ski Championships.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Swimming
Great Britain earned a bronze medal in the team standings at the World Barefoot Water Ski Championships in Florida. The United States and Australia finished in the gold and silver positions, respectively.
Why it matters
The result highlights the competitive level of the Great Britain squad against global leaders in the sport. Team placements at this international event are calculated based on performances across slalom, jumping, and trick disciplines.
Tom Heaps achieved a longest jump of 24.5 meters, earning 942.31 points in the jump category. He finished 10th overall in the open men's competition, alongside individual rankings of 10th in tricks and 22nd in slalom.
The players
Tom Heaps
A 27-year-old athlete from Grappenhall who holds 16 international medals and 13 European titles in barefoot water skiing.
Ben Groen
A competitor from New Zealand who claimed the bronze medal in the open men's jump category at the championships.
The details
Tom Heaps, a 27-year-old athlete from Grappenhall, represented Great Britain while competing in the open men's division. Ben Groen of New Zealand secured the bronze medal in the jump category, narrowly ahead of Heaps who finished fourth in that specific discipline.
Timeline
The World Barefoot Water Ski Championships took place in October 2026.
Season Trajectory
Great Britain's third-place finish solidifies its standing among the top three nations in the sport's international hierarchy. This podium result validates the current national training program as they look to challenge the long-standing dominance of the American and Australian teams.
Tom Heaps successfully completed three jumps, with his performance scoring 942.31 points in the jump category. His placement outside the individual podium marks a significant data point in his career total of 16 international medals.
The takeaway
Team-wide consistency in technical disciplines like slalom and tricks remains the primary pathway to reaching the podium in international water skiing. Success at this level requires athletes to balance specialized discipline performance with overall team classification goals.
Further reading
For more on international water sport performance, see the latest updates in Swimming.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Warrington Guardian - news, sport, Wolves, info, cars, jobs and homes in Warrington, Cheshire..
